Formaplex increases production capacity

Formaplex, the provider of world class manufacturing solutions has invested a further £1m in the purchase of 5 injection moulding machines to increase their component production capabilities.

Following investment of £15m over recent years, the addition of these 5 new Negri Bossi moulding machines, including a 2,000t model, will increase their manufacturing and production facilities to include a total of 16 injection moulding machines, ranging from their smallest 55t machines to an impressive 3500t machine.

Mark Swan, Southern Area Sales Manager for Negri Bossi said, “Since we were first approached by Formaplex in 2004 to supply them with injection moulding machines we, at Negri Bossi, have worked very closely with them and have become an integraNegri Bossi Formaplexl part of the extraordinarily successful journey that Formaplex has experienced. From the onset, we recognised that Formaplex were going places and we fully understood that in order for them to offer world class manufacturing solutions, they needed a world class provider of injection moulding machines. We were prepared to take on the challenge. They were looking to work with a partner who was not only a market leader, but that could offer the right range of machines developed using the latest technological advances with a support structure to match. We are very proud to be the sole supplier of injection moulding machines to Formaplex and we are delighted to have built such a strong relationship with this dynamic company”.

The additional machines will increase capacity for prototype and low volume production runs by 50%. Tool trial capacity will also increase. As a fully integrated services supplier, their facilities are also used by customers for off-line tool trials and development validation before taking tools back to their production lines. Formaplex operate round the clock to meet time critical delivery schedules. Their policy of continuous investment in the latest technology, combined with a ‘can do’ attitude, ensures complete accuracy and fast response times for customer satisfaction.

Simon Pattrick, Mould and Assembly Manager comments, ‘’ Negri Bossi have consistently supported the rapid growth of Formaplex with reliable, high quality moulding machinery. Our business is founded on our ability to deliver innovative, high quality products in rapid timescales to prestigious customers in many demanding sectors. The level of service and agility of the support we receive from Negri Bossi ensures we are able to achieve this’’.

The South Coast based design and engineering company for tooling and lightweight components achieved sales of £45m in 2015, and with targets set at £52m for 2016, is growing from strength to strength. The level of manufacturing has steadily increased, they currently employ over 400 staff, with a diverse team of design engineers and consultants to offer an extremely high level of technical expertise.

Managing Director, Michael Last comments: “Our customers occupy high profile positions and require a ‘total satisfaction’ service, that’s exactly what we supply. We adopt this approach to meet the demands of using advanced technology in growing industrial markets. We are also proud of our ‘work hard with the right team’ ethics, employing personnel with specialist knowledge to deliver this expanding service.”

Formaplex has a culture of being passionate about design and manufacturing. Adrian Chapman, Technical Director, has extensive tool design experience and heads up the design team. ‘’We provide our customers with a superior, up-front “design for manufacture” complete service. We liase closely with them to ensure part designs suit injection moulding processes, resulting in the highest quality, moulded component parts’’.

The company provides world-class manufacturing services, which can be combined to provide an integrated solution for customers for:
• Injection-mould tooling
• Thermo-plastic components
• Component assembly & finishing
• Component machining and tooling
• Composites tooling and patterns
• Composite components
• Jigs and fixtures
• Specialist Engineering
Formaplex utilises innovative processes and advanced manufacturing techniques to deliver cost effective, superior tooling and lightweight component solutions to customers across many specialist industries from automotive, aerospace, defence, marine, motorsport and industrial, through to special projects.